Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule as proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an enormous overreach, in an attempt to gain increased control over all water. The EPA's proposed rule would expand federal jurisdiction over water currently managed by states. This would potentially subject farmers and ranchers to federal permitting just to carry out day-to-day operations.
When asked his position on WOTUS at the Cattlemen's forum on Sept. 22, Mike McLachlan responded he had not read the bill, but he basically supported it and believed most Colorado legislators did also.
U.S. Sen. Udall of Colorado has expressed his approval of the EPA rule as well. J. Paul Brown calls this a "power grab," which it is. Ask any water authority in the state. Farm Bureau and state leaders throughout the west (except Colorado) have been extremely vocal and involved in opposing WOTUS.
Don't let their political ads deceive you. McLachlan's and Udall's idea of "protecting our water" is to turn jurisdiction over to federalism. These men need to be voted out of office and we have that opportunity on Nov. 4.
Caryl Helmin-Schmid
Ignacio
